For my Loclovers!

You know who you are....

You know what you like

• Loc charms
  
• Loc cuffs
• Loc accessories             indigenousbeau571@gmail.com/www.hair2hopefour.com           

Transition/transformation....

Taking a leap into the new.

There is a war going on inside my mind that is constant.

 A change is about to take place, or it has already taken place and I'm becoming aware of it.

  I'm in  labor, about to give birth to a new a side of me that has been dormant, shackled in darkness and or in Purgatory.

  I'm at the verge of a transformation and I feel burdened down, a little shy and almost always sure.

 I have to keep moving forward toward where I believe I'll meet  my  destiny, my new level of being.

  The thought of it gives me joy, a strange excitement and a will to keep pressing forward. 

But the unease of it and the unfamiliarity makes me want to go back and rest with satisfaction and comfort.

 This transition is a fight to the finish, a fight against the old and for the new in me- I'm using all that I have left in me, which at times doesn't feel like much at all.

  I've used up a lot of my resources, if I had known better I would have done better.

 A lot have been stolen and/or destroyed, but I've also earned some mighty useful resources as well.

 I believe I'm going to make it, I believe that I'm already there....

 

Co-Wash? Or Shampoo?

     There are some naturally curly/coily/kinky hair wearers with a belief that "co-washing" is a better alternative to cleanse their hair than the traditional "shampoo".  The claim is that shampoos with sulfates in them are extremely drying to the hair, leaving it hard and will literally strip the oils from the hair.  I will show how this new hair care phenomenon of "co-washing" is a myth and will need to be obliterated from natural curly hair websites and blogs.  For those of you that may be unfamiliar with the term of "co-washing" hair, let me tell you what it is.  "Co-Washing is: "using conditioners to cleanse the hair instead of shampoo.  The shampoo step is omitted to go straight to conditioning" (Walton).  Is this co-washing technique an effective alternative to cleansing curly/kinky hair or some made-up aspect of trying to "fix" these hair types?  I would have to say that it is not an alternative or a "fixative" and I will share with you several reasons why.

      This "co-washing" procedure causes many problems.  If done for a long period of time without a suitable cleansing shampoo it will cause breakage, but before it gets to that stage, you will experience tangled/hard to manage hair.  Most times when our hair gets tangled it is for several reasons, one is that it has become damaged, very dry and that it has build-up on the surface.  Co-washing causes all three and also an excessive amount of itching of the scalp.  

     When there is heavy stubborn build-up on the hair and scalp, it is difficult to know where to go in treating the hair and making it ready for styling; it's almost impossible to realize what you're working with.  The residue that has accumulated on the scalp appears as dandruff but is in fact build-up and dead skin cells.  This residue clogs the pores and stunts hair growth. Because of the weight from the excessive amount of grit absorbed into strands from co-washing, hair styles are short lived, lifeless and flat.

      "Conditioners are of primary importance for the hair, shampoos are of primary importance for the scalp.  Shampoos help remove styling products, to massage and cleanse the scalp, remove dead skin cells, sweat, pollution, and excessive oil while encouraging the flow of nutrient rich blood to the hair roots" (Janseen108).

    There are alternative ways we can care for our hair in an attempt to keep, maintain and achieve the healthiest hair that we possibly can.  In efforts of doing so, our first priority is to seek consultation from an experienced professional hair care provider.  All that naturally curly/ coily/kinky hair textures need is some TLC, a knowledgeable hair care provider to enhance its beauty and to keep it healthy and clean.

Jacquie

www.hair2hopefour.c

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Maintaining and Grooming Locs!!

Every natural hair stylist has their own way of maintaining and grooming their clients Locs.  I would like to share a brief summary of how we care for "Locs" here at Indigenous Beauty Concepts Salon.  First and foremost we aim for the process to be stress-free,  exciting and enjoyable. Here is a little list:

• There is a reason to begin Locs at a certain length.(analyzed and discussed at consultation)
• We will never advise our clients to use petroleum, mineral oil or alcohol products on Locs at any time.(these draw dust lint etc....to hair, making Locs dry heavy & dull)
• Shampooing on a regular basis results in clean, neat, strong and well groomed Locs.
• We advise using plant-based light oils on Locs to avoid build up and to always present a healthy appearance.(IBC provides excellent plant-based haircare products & treatments for your Locs)
• A sulfate-free shampoo is highly advisable.
• The proper care of Locs for the first year is crucial to the health and beauty of your Locs in the mature phases.
• Drink plenty of water daily and add to your diet lots of raw fruits and vegetables.
• These suggestions offered are based on the experiences of IBC salon in the process of hair locking.  We promote clean, healthy.growing and neat Locs.
• shop.hair2hopefour.com
  

    

 If you are considering Locing your hair, I would love to help you through the process. Beautiful Locs begins at Indigenous Beauty Concepts Salon, we feel that "It's not about the destination so much as it is the journey."

 www.hair2hopefour.com

Keys to Believe

My Black History Month Blog...

Being me is not as glamorous or as charming as the world would have me be. Some of the outside world would have me to believe that who I am is not enough and would need some adjustments in order to be "okay".  And because of that constant brainstorm it is easy to become discontent with who I am.  It would be easy to go with the flow of not loving and believing in myself; and to doubt God's beautiful creation. Me.

Well I can't blame the believe and doubt game totally on the outside world because it has been a fact of life throughout my life with family and  close friends.  It's a fact that some family and friends still believe they need to change who they are to be accepted and that I too need to change who I am in order to be accepted by society or even by them. Change is a part of life and we all make personal changes in life when we are so blessed to get them.  Maybe deep down within me this type of reasoning is why I have never been a sociable person.  I have always felt uncomfortable in certain circles as I reflect back. My mind was programmed to think that I was wrong in some ways such as: my complexion, my opinions my total appearance and in my self-expressions.

I grew in that mindset and lost a lot of important opportunities in my life.  It kept me so pressed down until life was just one big complication after another. The answers that I needed to move forward in life were there on the inside of me all the time but at the same time I had my doubts about them.  Doubts if whether I could perform a task, capable of finishing a project, enter a rewarding challenge, just anything worthwhile.

That is why I will always believe that when a person doesn't care to take the time to know who they are and accept who they are they will never find love, peace, happiness or any kind of true personal success. Accepting who you are is the key to peace, self-love and freedom.

Discover! Create! Begin...

I believe we all have the ability to be creative as long as we trust in ourselves and remove the element of Fear.  Whenever I create a project I use whatever is available to me and begin from there.  I don't put a whole lot of thought into my projects in the beginning, I just Start.  I find that if I think too much frustration will set in and nothing will ever get accomplished.  If I'm creating a cornrow style I begin with a single braid and from there I begin the second braid and on and on....

Maybe at about a quarter of the way through my hairstyle I start to form a vision in my mind of the finished look.  The same ritual is used when I am creating earrings, painting a picture or doing a sketch on my sketch pad.  I just STarT and listen to my materials and allow myself to be guided.  This blog is inspired by the photos I viewed on Pinterest.

OMG! The beautiful looks of natural hair makes me wonder why some people have a problem with it.  Kinky hair is so very versatile and unique to each individual that if we would just be patient and GO For It! we will discover things about ourselves and get inspired from THAT. Discovery is a part of the transition process, a process that can be frustration through and within itself.

There is no such thing as perfect, but whatever YOU decide to do for yourself and if you decide to do it yourself I consider it to be PERFECT and I'm sure beautiful as well.
www.hair2hopefour.com

LET'S MEET!

I have a little to say but I don't know how to begin.  I'm going to try to begin at the beginning but that is so far back on my own personal journey until after a time of deep reflection it gets kinda foggy.
In my business of natural hair styling and Locs for the African American, I have finally become fully conscience of what it is that I am actually doing.  I am meeting my clients where they are in their personal journeys and providing them with what they need and what they want through a process uniquely designed and customized for each individual, spiritually, mentally and physically.  For some of us the journey doesn't begin with the hair, (but doesn't omit it either) it could begin at many different levels in an attempt to meet personal goals.
Have you ever been so very close up on a situation until you can't see it?  Like how a certain thing can be so right there in your face that you can't share it, describe it, communicate it, or even see it as it is? Can't see the forest for the trees?
Maybe I am just describing myself but that is how it was (and sometime is)  for me in trying to express myself and clearly communicate to my customers the things needed in order to keep moving forward on personal journeys.
As we all are growing and learning new things about ourselves we discover the power and the blessings that are stored within all of us.  This is why it is so very important to know, love and accept who we are; its a beautiful thing to unleash the greatness, the divine gifts and the power that we have.  My journey began with accepting who I am and trusting myself enough to believe in my abilities and my experiences.  Trying to please other people with the life that God has planned out for me was the biggest mistake of my existence.  In order for me to meet people where they are I have to accept the gifts given to me and know that I am fearfully and wonderfully made and to love my fellow man as I love myself.  I want to meet you where you are! LET'S MEET....

www.hair2hopefour.com